Saturday

Personal Carbon Credits; What Next?

Posted by
Southern Man

The current administration seems fond of modeling U.S. policy after failed European models. The two most striking examples come in the form of Health Care Reform and Cap and Trade legislation. Given the propensity of Obama and his sycophants to absorb and regurgitate European quasi-socialist political dogma it seems likely that they will follow the U.K.’s lead on personal carbon allowances.

The following article is from Telegraph.co.uk and outlines the depth of draconian/Orwellian depravity that Eco-Marxists are willing to plumb in an attempt to forward their agenda.

Everyone in Britain could be given a personal 'carbon allowance'

Everyone in Britain should have an annual carbon ration and be penalised if they use too much fuel, the head of the Environment Agency will say.

Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.

Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.

If their "carbon account" hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.

Lord Smith will call for the scheme to be part of a "Green New Deal" to be introduced within 20 years when he addresses the agency's annual conference on Monday.An Environment Agency spokesman said only those with "extravagant lifestyles" would be affected by the carbon allowances.

He said: "A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out."However, some have criticised the move as "Orwellian" and say it will have a detrimental impact on business.

Ruth Lea, an economist from Arbuthnot Banking Group, told the Daily Mail: "This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It's Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business."Under the Climate Change Act, Britain is obliged to cut its emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050. This means annual CO2 emissions per person will have to fall from about 9 tonnes to only 2 tonnes.

The thing to remember is that none of this is really about saving the environment, the planet or anything so noble; its about money and control. Were it simply a matter of reducing carbon output to stem the alleged greenhouse effect there would be a firm limit on carbon production. Instead what is being proposed by this and similar legislation in the U.S. is a system of carbon credits whereby polluters can simply “pay to play”. If one has sufficient resources than the system amounts to little more than an additional tax. For the rest of us who cannot afford to play the game we are left to modify our lifestyles in accordance with the mandates of our “moral superiors” while they continue to live the aforementioned lavish lifestyles.